THE ANTI-DIABETIC YAM – Dioscorea dumetorum

Yam is a major source of carbohydrate and as such is expected to increase the blood glucose levels of humans. It is then interesting to read or hear of an anti-diabetic yam; a paradox one may be forced to conclude but a fact yet it remains.

There indeed is an anti-diabetic yam; three-leaved yam or the African Bitter yam, popularly referred to by the Ibos as “ona” is one of the plants in the Dioscoraceae Family (Dioscorea dumetorum) whose tubers contain an alkaloid, DIOSCORETINE with potent hypoglycaemic activity, thus making this yam a medication per se, for diabetics. Its anti-diabetic activity has been compared with that of the sulphonamide, tolbutamide.

Furthermore, the aqueous extract of this plant has been reportedly used to control hyperlipidaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, and hyperketonaemia.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by increased blood sugar level (hyperglycaemia) caused by insulin deficiency or lack of sensitivity of insulin. Some of the complications of Diabetes mellitus includes blindness, stroke, increased chances of infection, poor healing rate of wounds, nervous diseases, kidney diseases, heart diseases, etc.

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